The perfect foundation routine. We all seek it. And when you find it, it’s the stuff dreams are made of.

Like all makeup lovers out there, I’ve experimented with an array of foundations that range in coverage intensity and luminosity. I’ve found some that I can’t live without, and I’ve found some that can’t make it out of my kit fast enough. While there are some good old standbys that I will never leave behind, the fact is I firmly believe it takes a couple products mixed together to get the perfect fresh face (fresh face, that is, ready for severe amounts of makeup!)

And here it comes. The Holy Grail of Foundation that I have found with the help of other beauty blogger recommendations out there. And it is:

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation (full coverage foundation)

MAKE UP FOR EVER Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation (full coverage foundation with shine control)

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer (super light skin brightener)

Seem like too much work just for a foundation? It’s not, really. I swear by one pump of each product and then mixed together. The result is just the right amount of sheen on top of a matte finish. Who says you can’t have your perfect highlight atop a breathtakingly soft face, right?!

For those weary of adding a brightener to full coverage matte foundations, feel free to leave that step out of the mix. Either way, the result is a finish that can’t be replicated in one formula.

Major props to Samantha of Batalash Beauty for the Josie Maran tip, and Amrezy of Glamrezy for showing the foundation pairing on her Instagram account. MAKEUP GENIUS!

The perfect foundation routine would not be complete without the perfect tools. While I swear by a beauty blender for just about anything, I must admit that using a buffing brush to apply and blend the foundation first always works best. But I still keep my beauty blender there during the process for picking up excess product and evening out. Trust me, your nose crevices and under-eyes will thank you!

Happy Blending, beauty dolls!

-cdubdoll